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AT A GLANCE

As the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to expand, there is an increased demand for skilled talent that can create and facilitate the implementation of new technologies

According to the BLS, the number of jobs available to web developers will increase by 27% by 2024

A wide range of industries and types of companies are recruiting IoT workers, including industry, healthcare, and startups

August 01, 2016

IoT Creating Jobs

The Internet of Things (IoT) is continuing to expand, and with that growth comes an increasing demand for skilled talent. As businesses in a wide range of fields look for ways to use IoT technologies, the need for a workforce that can create and facilitate the implementation of these new technologies is high.

According to a report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as the Internet of Things continues to become more mature, the demand for web developers will continue to grow. It is expected that the number of jobs available to web developers will increase by 27 percent from 2014 to 2024. Similarly, data scientists, who can take extensive data provided by IoT technologies and analyze it for important insights, are also in high demand.

Similarly, the demand for software and hardware engineers is also increasing, especially in the area of IoT solutions deployment. A search for engineering positions mentioning IoT in the title on Indeed.com reveals a huge increase in salary expectations for this position in the past 18 months. And a recent study found that 45 percent of developers believe that IoT development is critical to their overall business strategy.

High Demand in Non-Tech Companies

Many companies that are traditionally non-tech now offer several new opportunities for workers who possess skills in IoT technologies. For example, according to ReadWrite, clothing company Under Armour has adopted the Internet of Things in their business models as a way to expand their brand as an all-in-one solution for health and fitness. The new unit for this employs software engineers and other technology positions.

Industry and Healthcare

Both the industry and healthcare sectors are starting to integrate IoT in their operations, thus driving a growth for IoT professionals in these fields. In the industry sector, automation is a huge trend as it enables manufacturers to produce more products while using fewer workers. While workers on the ground level are being eliminated, it is driving a demand for system architects and data scientists to build these complex industrial applications.

Meanwhile, in healthcare, IoT technology is creating more accurate and portable devices that allow healthcare professionals to measure a patient’s heartbeat or activity levels. The sector is looking for skilled talent who are able to create solutions that are able to provide ample information while being simple enough for healthcare professionals and their patients to understand.

Startups

Many startup companies and entrepreneurs are delving into the business of developing for the Internet of Things. As such there is tremendous opportunity for skilled professionals to find jobs with a wide range of start-ups looking to provide solutions for various applications. And these job opportunities can be lucrative, since many existing large companies are actively seeking ways to incorporate IoT in their own business models, and one trending strategy is to acquire IoT start-ups that provide the technology they seek.